Interview: Del-ka Aedilis

For this interview, I met Nea Narstrom and Beric01 Resident, the two creative minds behind Del-ka Aedilis. This label might not be so well-known already. But I have seen various sim designs from the two and was always surprised when they came up with something new. Everytime, everything matched smoothly: landscape, buildings, furniture, decoration. Even if I didn’t participate in the proposed roleplays, the sims invited to stay and hang out for a good while. So I absolutely had to introduce them to you.

Nea, me and Beric on top of the wall

Their passion for roleplay and their wish for suitable roleplay environments was the headstone to give building a try. „As passionate roleplayers, we discovered the need of low-prim, well-built and nicely textured buildings, especially for gorean and ancient greek or roman settings“, they explain on their homepage. „I think, the first time we built was at the time, when we couldn’t find suiting houses for Selnar. Either we didn’t like it, or it had too much prims“, tells Nea while Beric adds: „Also we realized that many houses were great but unfortunately inappropriate for our roleplay intentions. So we started to modify the buildings we bought. We started little by little, and over time, we became more and more courageous. Victoria was the first sim on which all houses were self-built.“

It was a long path over months, even years for them to come from re-building to self-made. They took even a step further and are nowadays specialised in creating whole sim settings. They want to provide „the perfect roleplaying environment where terraforming, city or village layout, buildings, interior, decoration and everything else appears to be from the same mold“. But where does their inspiration come from? Nea explains: „Actually, we realize everything which would excite us for a roleplay. You have a certain idea about a roleplay environment in mind, and therefore a goal you’d like to achieve. It also makes it easier to work on it.“ -- „And my inspiration is the challenge to create something with recognition value!“, Beric points out with a big enthusiastic smile.

One of their latest releases from the Ellaria Series

One of their recent remittance works that made a whole roleplay sim community flabbergasting, was the reconstruction of Kasra. The german gorean roleplay sim on which Kasra was located had a big challenge when they decided to merge with another sim, Belnend, and that their part with the Kasra city would need a total new layout but now only on one half of the sim. The leadership of Kasra gave them a huge leap of faith when Nea and Beric were asked to rebuild and reconstruct it ‚as they see fit‘. With that granted freedom, they realized their vision of Kasra within a very short time. And Kasra’s expectation was not disappointed. It was even outstripped.

Ironrath at Wolfswood is another roleplay sim design by Del-ka Aedilis, inspired by Game of Thrones

„Would you ever consider to participate in events?“, I ask. Both are a bit hesitant but for a reason: „So far, we didn’t have the courage to apply for such events. Even though it would be a nice option since our portfolio is gradually growing and is already quite considerably by now. On the other hand, we are aware that such events have often strict requirements and datelines because it is needed. Since we also feel that we want and need a certain connection to our works, we fear that we couldn’t cope with this kind of  business.“ I do realize how important it is for them to feel comfortable with their projects and to have a certain bound with it. I want the details: „If someone would love to hire you, what would they need to know?“-- „First of, the general conditions: the setting, the time frame, and if it is a full or homestead sim. Second, the ideas or visions the sim owner already has. After putting all that together, we can decide if we are able to accept the challenge.“

What about the costs? Except from the buildings which are available for fixed prices at the mainstore, a whole sim design is a matter of negotiation. „All income from the shop is supposed to cover our sim costs. For any sim design by us, we ask to donate to a non-profit organisation only“, they explain. I am already sure about which organsisation they are talking because I remember their installation Terra Nostra in December 2014/January 2015. And indeed, all donations go to Doctors Without Borders, they confirm.

After so many information, I want to visit their newest sim, Castle Black and The Wall. Most will notice immediately that this sim is inspired by Game of Thrones. „It does look quite realistic. How did you do it? Did you study the books, the series…?“, I want to know as I look up that wall that seems to have no end. „It is a fusion of what we have read in the books, what we have seen in the series -- I, myself, have watched the scenes about Castle Black forth and back! -- , and everything we could find from ‚behind the scenes‘ information. A big help was a Youtube video from a student who modelled the castle in a game engine.“

Courtyard of Castle Black. In the background: the elevator to the top of the wall

Now I want to explore the sim! Nea and Beric suggest to get on that huge wall so I could have a nice view from above. I agree. They recommend to activate the sounds. To which I follow. Then we step into the elevator. The doors squeak, and finally, the elevator starts to move. „Justin Joseppe said, if ever anyone would build this elevator, he would provide the script. And he kept his word.“ I wished, he didn’t. They laugh. I don’t. I cringe, and grit my teeth. This is the best and, at the same time, the most horrific elevator ride I had so far in my whole Second Life! I have no words for that. This is an experience you will have to make yourself!

View from above. The wall has a dizzying height!

But the panorama I have on the top of the wall outweighs the horror I had to go through. It snows a little and it’s currently rather calm than windy on that simple platform which is fixed in a dizzying height. I thank my two interview partners for their time and take a snapshot with them. In this moment, innocent me, even forgot that I still had to take the elevator to get back on the ground… 

LINKS & SURLS
>> Official Homepage of Del-ka Aedilis <<
>> Del-ka Aedilis @ Second Life <<

>> Del-ka Aedilis @ marketplace <<
>> Castle Black and The Wall <<

During the interview, I was wearing the following stuff:

HEAD: LeLutka Mesh Head Stella

BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands
HEAD / BODY APPLIER: Lumae Niska - 4 - Peach // Sangria - Lazy Sunday

HAIR: Magika Shine

EYES: IKON Triumph. Armor - free GG / no fee

EYELASHES: Mon Cheri Falsies

EARS: [MANDALA] Steking Ears Season 5

HEADPIECE: Independent Objects Mearwen Circlet tyvm!
OUTFIT: FDD Stories Trissa @ The Fantasy Gacha - Gacha